Killing Osama bin Laden, like killing any Islamist terrorist leader, has long-term benefits. But in the short-term it can make terrorism more, not less, likely. Al Qaeda has a sharpened incentive to strike, precisely to try to show that it hasn't been decapitated and can't be counted out.
This may be the reason that the Al Qaeda-linked web forum Ansar Al Mujahedeen has published a list of targets that includes Monrovia-based AeroVironment and eleven specified executives. This innocuously-named company creates some of the wonderful spy drones that have been so devastatingly effective against terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere.
An anonymous Homeland Security source said: “All of the executives involved have been informed of the nature of the threat,” which doesn't amount to a specific plan. Congressman Adam Schiff, who represents the area, said: "The FBI confirms AeroVironment and its senior executives are on the so-called Al-Qaeda linked 'Hit List' on a jihadist website and is continuing to investigate the situation. However, there is currently no evidence that an attack is about to happen or even being extensively planned against local businesses or individuals."
Monrovia officials promised to strengthen security at the facility. Still, events such as the Monrovia Farmer's Market and Monrovia Family Festival will not be cancelled.
There have been numerous attacks in this country since September 11, 2001, that can be ascribed to Islamist terrorism, including an April 2003 shooting at the Los Angeles airport that killed two. With luck, this one in Monrovia has been averted. Terrorists generally prefer soft targets.
But anyone who thinks Americans in America are safe from Islamist terror is fooling himself.
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